Ski pole construction



Feb. 11, 1969 D. M. COLLINS 3,427,039

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Armi/Ey United States Patent O 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A ski pole in which the upper portion, including the plastic or rubber enclosure, is a hexagonal or polygonal cross section with the strap being mounted inside of -a slot of the rubber enclosure and connected to the top of a pole. The lower end of the pole is tapered with increasing diameter downwardly and the basket is fitted thereon permanently by means of a friction t and held in place by an elastic ring. The basket has a rubber or similar plastic structure which is permanently connected to an outer metal ring and an inside metal sleeve. The tip which is press tted in position is hollow to lessen the weight.

The present invention relates to a ski pole construction and it particularly relates to a ski pole construction of non-circular cross-section.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a more durable ski pole which may be more readily handled by the user thereof and which will be of better design and more suitable for usage in the sport f skiing.

Still further objects and advantages will appear in the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and explanation only and not by way of limitation, since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In accomplishing the above objects it has been found most satisfactory to form the main ski pole of an upper larger section of non-circular crosssection and preferably of hexagonal cross-section with a lower reduced section that slightly tapers downwardly, both sections being formed of substantially integral tubing of aluminum or similar lightweight metal. The handle is desirably of form fitting rubber material which is permanently molded upon the upper end of the hexagonal portion, whereas the basket is desirably mounted on the downwardly tapered portion somewhat above the lower end thereof.

Desirably, the upper end is sealed by Va cap inside of the rubber handle member, which carries, by means of a screw, rivet or bolt, the ends of an outwardly projecting loop strap. The basket itself desirably consists of a perforated rubber or resilient member mounted upon the tapered portion by means of upper and lower sleeves and having a peripheral metal edging which engages the periphery thereof.

The lower end of the tubular member, and particularly the lower end of the tapered portion thereof, at the narrowset portion is sealed by means of a shouldered, pointed insert. Although the preferred form as shown is of hexagonal cross-section, it is also possible to provide upper ski pole cross-sections of quadragonal, pentagonal, square or even triangular cross-section.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modi- 3,427,039 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 ice cations can he resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a ski pole according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the upper portion of the ski pole at the handle portion, showing the construction, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view of the lower portion of the ski pole showing the basket mounting on the lower tapered portion of the ski pole, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3a and 3b are fragmentary transverse sections of an alternative embodiment respectively showing a modified basic construction and a modified point construction.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view upon the line 4-4 of FIG. 1, looking downwardly through the handle section, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a transverse horizontal section view upon the line 5 5 of FIG. 1, looking upwardly through the lower tapered portion above the basket, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a transverse horizontal sectional View upon the line 6-6 of FIG. l, upon an enlarged scale as compared to FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 6, there is shown a ski pole A with an upper rectangular portion B with straight sides, a lower tapered cylindrical portion C, an upper handle cover D having a strap E, a lower basket F, a top cap G and a lower terminal pointed end H.

The tubular portion B-C is integral and desirably drawn of a piece of aluminum tubing so that it has a width at its upper end which is about 50% to 100% greater than its width at the lower end or narrowest portion. The upper end is sealed by the plug G, which may be permanently mounted in position and which carries a central screw or bolt 20. The screw or bolt 20 has a slotted head 21, by means of which it may be tightened down on the thimble or eyelet 22 which extends through the two ends 23 of the strap E.

The strap E and the head 21 of the bolt or screw 20 are positioned in a recess 24 in the top of the rubber handle member D. The rubber handle member D has approximately the same hexagonal contour as the upper portion B of the pole A an-d it has a forwardly projecting portion 25 at its lower end, an intermediate rearwardly projecting portion 26 and an enlarged top portion 27, which makes it more readily grasped in combination with the strap E having the basket 28.

As shown best in FIG. 2, the Center handle is provided with a hexagonal recess at 29 to receive the upper end 30 of the hexagonal portion B and the upper end of the handle D. The recess is indicated at 24 and 31 to receive the ends 23 of the strap E, and to permit access to the screw 20. The basket F, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, has a rubber portion 32 and the outstanding arms 33, with a peripheral portion 34 receiving the metal edging 35. The metal edging has an outside portion 36 and the upper flange 37 and the lower flange 38. The hub 32 is held in position by -means of the ring 39 iixed to the lower portion 40 of the pole C and held in position by the ring 41 of the inturned edges 42 forced into the side of the lower portion C of the ski pole.

The lower end 43 of the ski pole receives the projection 44 of the pointed end portion, which its into the shoulder 45.

In FIG. 3a the basket is shown as having a central sleeve 39' with a conical opening to jam on the tapered portion 40 of the ski pole. The friction holder ring 41' will have teeth 42 which bite into the body 40 and hold the sleeve 39 in position. The rubber hub portion 32 of the basket will be vulcanised and/ or otherwise permanently mounted on the sleeve 39. The outer portion of the basket 75 in PIG. 3a is vulcanised or otherwise permanently mounted to the inside face of the outside peripheral terminal element 38.

In FIG. 3b the lower end 43' of the ski pole B is shouldered and receives the extension 44 of the point H. The insertion of the point H is limited by the shoulder 45. It will be noted that the point H is hollow so as to limit its weight.

The present ski pole is more compact, more readily handled, and more attractive to the eye than the normal pole, and the upper polygonal section enables ready manipulation thereof in combination with the tapered lower portion C. As shown in FIG. 1, the upper uniform polygonal cross-section extends over a major portion of the length of the ski pole, amounting to 60 to 75% of the length of the ski pole before it becomes a tapered rounded portion, as indicated at C in FIG. 1,

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. A ski pole construction comprising an elongated integral tubular member having an upper `wide section of uniform polygonal cross-section extending over a major portion of the length, amounting at least to 60 to 75% of the length, and a lower narrow downwardly converging tapered portion of circular cross-section, an upper handle member ymounted on the upper end of the tubular member, a strap associated with said upper handle member and a basket mounted on the lower portion of the tapered section, point-forming means to seal the lower end of the tubular member and strap-securing means to seal the upper end of the tubular member.

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2. The construction of claim 1, said upper strap-securing means consisting of a plug and a screw member I'itted in said plug carrying said strap and said upper handle member having a recess to permit access to said screw and the end of said strap.

3. The construction of claim 1, the point-forming means at the lower end of the tubular member consisting of a hollow shouldered pointed plug having an inserted portion fitting within the lower end of the tubular member and a downwardly pointed tapering portion below the shoulder continuing the outside wall of the tapered section.

4. The construction of claim 1, said polygonal crosssection being hexagonal.

5. The construction of claim 1, sai-d lower point-forming means having a shouldered central recess extending on both sides of the lower end of the tubular member.

6. The construction of claim 1, the basket having a central tapered metallic sleeve jammed on the lower end of said circular cross-section and a spring shoulder member having means engaging the tapered section and holding the basket in position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,074,987 3/ 1937 Lagerblade. 3,179,435 4/1965 Miller 280-1L37 3,150,879 9/1964 Head 280-1137 3,202,436 8/1965 Barreca 280--11.37

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,126,047 7/1956y France.

527,678 10/ 1940 Great Britain.

69,662 10/ 1945 Norway. 275,474 8/ 1951 Switzerland.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Primary Examiner.

MILTON L. SMITH, Assistant Examiner. 

